Author Archives: sdaedalus

Extract from a letter from William Molyneux to Edmond Halley (of Halley’s Comet fame), 6 April 1685, about goings on at the Dublin Philosophical Society: “[S]everal of our meetings have been employed by a young mathematical female in this place, … Continue reading →

From the Irish Times, Thursday, September 7th, 1876:- Alas, no more is known about James Daly and his theatrical endeavours.  It seems he never again appeared in Grafton Street in female dress, or, if he did, his disguise must have been … Continue reading →

A collection of documents from the Irish auction house Adams, relating to the Fenian John Devoy, including a photograph of Mrs Elizabeth Kilmurray (formerly Kenny), and another from Devoy with the following inscription:- ‘To Mrs. E. Killmurray, nee Eliza Kenny, in … Continue reading →

A post in honour of our annual vernal promise of a glorious summer, unfulfilled nine years out of ten, the tease… Paintings by Fergus O’Ryan and Henry Healy, recently on auction at adams.ie…

This 1883 design by Ernest Lee was one of the unsuccessful entrants in a competition to design premises for the new Science and Art Museum, established by statute in 1877 so that ‘the people of Ireland would obtain the fullest opportunity of … Continue reading →

There are probably a lot of candidates for this title, but in my humble opinion it goes to John Clavell above, called to the Irish Bar in November 1635, shortly after his marriage to a Dublin heiress, Isabel Markham. Clavell’s criminal career began … Continue reading →

Just a few photos of 1900s Dublin, from ebay.com. The first one below, with penny-farthing, is my favorite, but the elegant lounging Phoenix Park gentlemen and the Marlborough Street streetlamp are looking pretty good too.  Or were, once. Nothing like … Continue reading →

“In about a month I hope to be a bridegroom,” continued Mr. Rochester; “and in the interim, I shall myself look out for employment and an asylum for you.” “Thank you, sir; I am sorry to give—” “Oh, no need … Continue reading →

This early Harry Kernoff (Harcourt Street, Dublin, 1920s) is rather brownish and doesn’t appeal as much as his other work at first, but the longer you look at it the more you see and in the process of seeing it … Continue reading →

In ‘My Dublin’, a 1977 paper in the Dublin Historical Record detailing memories of her childhood sixty years previous, Moira Lysaght writes about, among others “Mr Little of Rathmines, who took a public stand against what he considered to be … Continue reading →